Updated 3pm: Illinois Budget (7/26/07)

Wednesday

Jul 25, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2007 at 9:08 AM

GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (7/26/07)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://ghns.ghnewsroom.com
*Please check this Web site in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

- CIGARETTE TAX. A Senate committee is to take up a proposal to increase the state's cigarette tax; Finke staffing/Springfield

- HEALTH CARE: Another Senate committee is to take up the "scaled-down" version of Gov. Blagojevich's health care proposal: Heupel/Springfield

- BUDGET TALKS: Checking on possible budget negotiation session among top leaders. One or more stories likely to result. Springfield
In Illinois News

- RATE RELIEF: A House committee is to take up the $1 billion electric rate agreement this afternoon. Springfield/Colindres
In Illinois News

RAT INVASION. (possible) Residents of Uplands neighborhood near Bradley University apparently are battling rats ever since Bradley University tapped into a sewer line while doing demo work, but so far no one wants to talk. Bradley admitted unleashing ‘a quantity of rats' but said they called in exterminators. Still, we hear the varmits have spread. Checking with residents, Bradley and the city. DAVIS/Peoria
In Illinois

HILLARY SUPPORT. Clinton's camp finally announces it's waving the flag to drum up support in Illinois for the New York senator. Peoria is part of a four-day campaign swing beginning yesterday throughout downstate. Clinton has said she won't concede Illinois to Obama; her reps say they're not kidding themselves and realize Obama is the state's favorite son. Met with the co-chair of her campaign, who also is meeting with labor leaders today. He says the state's earlier primary won't allow for Hillary to spend much campaign time here, but didn't rule out the possibility she could come to Peoria. MCDONALD/Peoria
In Illinois

PUB WORKS folo on employees who allegedly skipped out on drug tests. Springfield/Wetterich
In Illinois News

CRAMPTON: The man who made dinosaurs a part of Rockford is leaving. Burpee's Lew Crampton says he wants to live in the same house as his wife, who works in Columbus, Ohio). A look at his 6 years here and what's ahead. GERI NIKOLAI/Rockford Register Star
In Illinois

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS: Michael Seward of Rockford finished 3rd in the second annual USA Rock Paper Scissors League Championship July 7 in Las Vegas. The championship was televised on ESPN2. GRACE MATTIE/Rockford Register Star
In Illinois

SPORTS

NADEL: No column

WADE — Dwyane Wade talks to the media at his annual hoops camp for local kids. Southtown/Ladewski
In Illinois Sports

WHITE SOX NOTEBOOK. Southtown/Whalen
In White Sox and Illinois Sports

CUBS GAMER. At St. Louis, 7:10 p.m. Southtown/Vorva
In Cubs and Illinois Sports

CUBS NOTEBOOK. Southtown/Vorva
In Cubs and Illinois Sports

CUBS-CARDS: Kirk Wessler column from Game 2 in St. Louis. Peoria
In Cubs

PHENOM BAN: 7-year-old Madasyn Pettersen bows to pressure and pulls out of the Women's City. She instead will play in the state junior 18-under girls tournament, held at the same time, after RWGA officials got IWGA officials to invite her. The RWGA plans to install an age limit of 14 or so for the first time next year. MATT TROWBRIDGE/Rockford Register Star
In Illinois Sports

BUSINESS/HEALTH

SCREENING TESTS: An Iowa-based company, Stroke Detection Plus, will set up shop next week in the Prairie Capital Convention Center to offer a range of walk-in screening tests using ultrasound to detect scary-sounding stuff like blockages in neck arteries, aortic aneurysms, arterial disease and osteoporosis. Even though the company says the $100 worth of tests can give patients "peace of mind," the screenings - not covered by health insurance - may lead to unnecessary worry, unnecessary follow-up screenings and unnecessary (and risky) medical interventions, according to some doctors. Other doctors say the tests may be worth it for some people at high risk, but most docs agree that regular checkups from a family doctor is wisest route. Olsen/Springfield
In Illinois News

MENARD HOTEL TAX: PETERSBURG - Beginning Aug. 1, guests staying in Menard County's bed and breakfast inns, lodge and motel rooms will see a 3 percent hotel tax added to their bills, with revenues earmarked to promote tourism and attract overnight visitors to the area. The Menard County Tourism Council pushed for the new tax, which commissioners approved last month. Springfield/Gorman
In Illinois

AIR CARGO DOWN. (w/factbox) Halfway through the year, Greater Peoria Airport is seeing a continued loss of air-freight since 2000, from about 60 million pounds, expected to slip under 40 million pounds this year. Meanwhile, Bloomington has gone from 280,000 pounds in 1999 to more than 10 million pounds primarily due to Airborne Express moving from Peoria to B-N. The Peoria airport is still the downstate leader, but we'll see what officials blame as well as tie in a study looking at the issue. (20 inches; in) HANEY. Peoria
In Illinois

- AIR PASSENGERS UP. (w/factbox) Cargo might be down, but passengers numbers are up — enough so that there's a chance of breaking the 2005 record of 520,034; Still efforting B-N numbers. HANEY/Peoria
In Illinois

FEATURES

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE: Is finally here. So how is it? The futures on this brand of light, sweet crude topped out a few years ago, but the movie's still occasionally uproarious and, perhaps, proves that it must have been a bummer for Matt Groening and company to have to premiere in Vermont. Even the villain's name is Cargill. Springfield/Rogers
In Movies

COLIN HAY: The former frontman for the Australian '80s group Men at Work ("Who Can It Be Now?," "Down Under") is now a solo artist, and he's coming to the Hoogland. Springfield/Pike
In Illinois